jess I am very sorry for you and your bf and his family. cancer is such a horrible thing to go thru. not only for the patient but everyone that cares about them. I lost my mom to cancer almost 14 yrs ago. while alot of cancers now are curable some are not. I think it depends on how soon they caught it and the type. she is going to be going thru some rough treatments probably that will make her very sick. just do all you can for her and let her know you are there for her.